You may not go anywhere without your balm, but any urges you feel to reapply are strictly mental. "There is no known inherent addictive property to any of the ingredients in ChapStick," says Julia Tzu, M.D., a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at New York University.

However, some people may be allergic to certain ingredients, and that can cause contact dermatitis or irritant contact dermatitis, which may seem like chapping, Dr. Tzu adds. "If used consistently, the lips may become irritated and require the simultaneous soothing action lip balm provides. This may be the reason why people may feel 'dependent' on the product, even though a simple petrolatum jelly on the lips can also substitute for the soothing functions, while also being nonirritating." See your dermatologist if you experience cracked, irritated, and scaly pink patches around your mouth.

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The Little Bit You Ingest is Okay

There's a reason you've never seen menthol, beeswax, phenol, lanolin, cocoa butter, salicylic acid, and shea butter in your favorite recipes. "While there have been no cases of ingested lip balm harming anyone beyond maybe a minor stomach upset, these ingredients are not meant to be eaten regularly or in large amounts," explains Arleen K. Lamba, M.D., medical director at Maryland's Blush Med Institute. Luckily the amount you consume from licking your lips every so often isn't going to do much harm.

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It Does Expire

You'll likely use it up before it does, but ChapStick only lasts for two to three years. If you find an old tube and wonder if it's safe to use, be sure it doesn’t look or smell funny. "It's possible that bacteria and fungus can grow on old lip balm," says Anthony Youn, M.D., a surgeon practicing in Detroit.

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Lips Aren't The Only Place to Use It

Runners use ChapStick to prevent chapping around their noses in cold weather. You can also rub it into cuticles to moisturize them, tame unruly eyebrows, and even to lubricate a stuck zipper. Just be sure to keep separate tubes for different uses.

The popular lip balm has some surprising secrets!

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Learn the truth and 4 other things you never knew about the popular lip balm.